In this video I share how I boarded up our windows in preparation for hurricane Irma. Plywood sells out really fast so I grabbed some pallets from behind a tile place.
Just came across this now and you did a great job. I’d like to do something like that for my windows. This is a great idea and less expensive than buying those sheets of plywood.
Don't forget to paint them with a sealant like Thompson's WaterSeal. They are going to have water pounding on them. Will preserve them a little longer so, you don't have to make them again any time soon
I would consider using an interior mounting system that you can release from inside the home on some of the windows. You seem intelligent enough to design what you would need for your own application. Because now you've have no alternative routes to exit in an emergency (ie. fire) if the doors become non operational should the home list or semi-collapse in the winds . You could mount simple bolt hinges to one side either on the inside the window opening or the outside on the board. Mount your board to these first, swing closed, and secure from inside on the side you can access with your window open. That way, if needed, you can open your window, release the board, swing open, & get out. As it is now you've made it difficult to escape though your window openings. Just thinking about ur fams safety while also protecting ur home. God Bless.
Yeah that is a good point. I didn’t consider the escapability when I put these together. I’ve been wanting to rebuild these with normal 3/4 inch plywood since it’s easier to store and most of the time these are just taking up space in the garage. Doing a hinge idea like you mentioned is a good suggestion.
Good video. Well done and good explanations. Your voice sounds like a Bible teacher we like. His name is John Fen. At first I had to look to make sure.
What I do is I just go down to the scrap metal scrapyard and make a 5 sheet thick or about 2 inch thick sheet sandwich and drill it on to the window sill so I don’t have to measure and go through the whole labour and measuring thing and it may be scrap but it still has a decent amount of durability
I'd go with plywood if you can just based on it being easier to store. These things are okay but they are just so thick to stack against the wall in a garage
It's better than nothing, which is what you'll find in the plywood section when you go to HD or Lowes before a hurricane. If you've been through it you know resources get scarce before these things man. Plywood is gone instantly and people resort to nailing up siding and fencing and pegboard and everything else they can find. But yes, obviously plywood is ideal. Go buy thick af plywood and cut it to size way before hurricane season starts. It's lighter, will store more easily, and more durable than ghettoing together some janky pallet boards.
these will help even in cat5. It will deflect small debris, which can crack open windows at high speed. Once wind can get into the house, you're set for the roof and walls to potentially taken down. Open windows, doors, garages allow wind to create a "pathway" or stream of very high winds. if closed off, the wind is pretty much deflected.
There is no way that wall anchors will have enough pull strength if you end up needing it. (Think about non optimal situations not just your best case). You really shouldn’t be advising people to do it this way.
